Modal Verbs: Beatriz Jorge Isabbel Sandy PAU
Modal Verbs: Beatriz Jorge Isabbel Sandy PAU
BEATRIZ
+} JORGE
ISABBEL
- SANDY
PAU
MODAL
VERBS
A MODAL IS A TYPE OF AUXILIARY (HELPING) VERB THAT IS USED TO EXPRESS: ABILITY, POSSIBILITY, PERMISSION OR
OBLIGATION. MODAL PHRASES (OR SEMI-MODALS) ARE USED TO EXPRESS THE SAME THINGS AS MODALS, BUT ARE A
COMBINATION OF AUXILIARY VERBS AND THE PREPOSITION TO. THE MODALS AND SEMI-MODALS IN ENGLISH ARE:
• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Will
• Shall
• Should
• Ought to
• Must/Have to
• Would
CAN
"Can" is one of the most commonly used
modal verbs in English. It can be used to
express ability or opportunity, to request
or offer permission, and to show
possibility or impossibility.
I can ride a horse. ability
We can stay with my brother when we are in
Paris. opportunity
She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission
Can you hand me the stapler? request
Any child can grow up to be
president. possibility
COULD
""Could" is a modal verb used to express
possibility or past ability as well as to
make suggestions and requests. "Could" is
also commonly used in conditional
sentences as the conditional form of "can."
EXAMPLES:
Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility
Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability
You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion
Could I use your computer to email my boss? request
We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this
weekend. conditional
MAY
MAY – EXPRESS WISHES (ONLY MAY)
MAY YOU BOTH LIVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER
MAY NOT – TO GIVE PERMISSION
YOU MAY NOT PARK YOUR CAR IN FRONT OF THE GATE
MAY – POSSIBILITY
I MAY WATCH A MOVIE TONIGHT
WE CAN USE HAVE TO IN ALL THE VERB FORMS (PRESENT, PAST AND PERFECT
TENSES, GERUND, TO INFINITIVE, ETC.)
I DON’T LIKE HAVING TO GET UP EARLY.
SHE’S HAD TO WORK AT WEEKENDS SINCE SHE STARTED WORKING.
I HAD TO CANCEL THE MEETING.
Would is used to talk about habitual actions in the past, but not to talk
about past states.
It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will“.